Stone-digging machine



M. McQUEEN.

STONE DlGGlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,1919.

\ Patented Sept. 1920.

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M. MCQUEEN- STONE meme MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,1919.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

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I all'ozn cu M. McQUEEN.

STONE DIGGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,19I9- Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

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gwuenfoz ment with the soil at a MERT MCQUEEN, OF VAN HOOK, NORTH DAKOTA.

STON'E-DIGGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Appllcationfiled January 9, 1919. Serial No. 270,307.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Mnnr MoQUEErua citizen of the United States, residing at Van Hook, in the county of Mountrail and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stone-Digging Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stone digging machines and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a machine for removing stones varying in size from a field in a rapid and effectual manner and with little efifort upon the part of the operator, thus facilitating cultivating of the soil to a material exten Another and equally important object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character mentioned employing digging elements which are mounted in a manner such as will permit the same to automatically adjust themselves subsequent to engagement with a stone orstones, thereby lessening liability of the fracturing thereof or of any part of the machine.

It is also an object of the invention to" provide the machine with a form of stone conveying and gathering means whereby to receive the stones from the digging elements and move them into a receiving receptacle.

Another invention resides in the mounting of the digging elements, said digging elements being mounted so that they may be adjusted vertically and as a consequence, effect engagepredetermined depth.

The foregoing together with additional advantageous details and arrangements of parts of the preferred embodiment of my invention will be clear from the specific description hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, wherein said embodiment of the invention is illustrated for the purpose of facilitating a full understanding of the present improvements.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the front part of the same,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the rear part thereof,

Fig. 4 is a detail in section of one of the digging elements showing the mounting of Y the same,

important characteristic of the Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail in elevation of the stone receiving scoop, and

Fig. 6 isa detail in end elevation of the stone gathering hoe.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the substantially rectangular shaped frame of the machine, the same being provided with forward and rear wheels 2 and 3 respectively, the forward wheels, of course, being dirigible for an obvious purpose. A receiving receptacle 4 is carried on and depends from the rear end of the frame 1 and as will be understood, servesto receive the stones removed from a held by the digging means, hereinafter more fully described.

Disposed transversely of the intermediate portion of frame 1 is a shaft 5 carrying a plurality of bell crank levers G mounted thereon in spaced relation. To the upper ends of these bell crank levers links 7 are connected and are capable of adjust nent with respect to the levers by reason of the series of openings formed in their adjacent ends, connecting rods 8 equaling the number of links 7 are provided for and have certain of their ends overlapping the links 7, while the opposite ends are pivoted to levers 9 mounted in suitable brackets 10 secured to the forward end of the machine. Toothed segments 11 are provided for the various levers, the levers carrying spring pressed pawls '12 engageable in said segments, for an obvious purpose. To effect connection between links 7 and the connecting rods 8 springs 13 are coiled thereabout and have their opposite ends engaged with brackets 14 and 15, the brackets 14 being secured to the links 7 while the brackets 15 are secured to the connecting rods 8.

Digging tool holders 16 are provided and as will be noted have the forward ends reduced and pivotally connected to brackets arranged on the under side of the forward portion of the frame 1 and disposed transversely thereof, said brackets being designated by the numeral 17. Sockets are formed in the various holders 16 to receive chisel-like digging tools 19, the members 16 beingprovided with set screws 18 for securing of the same in adjusted positions. Links 20 are pivoted to tie other ends of the bell crank levers 6 and to the upper ends bracing bars 2 1 and motion to the. shaft 27, belts 35 are engaged ,tably mounted ga ed with the opposite b brackets 17, of the and with the outermost frame. r

Bearing pillars 26 are mounted on the frame 1 in', proximity to the rear end thereof and receive a transversely disposed shaft 27 therein, said shaft carrylng sprocket wheels or pulleys 28, engaged thereover and extending downwardly through the frame 21 into engagement with other sprocket wheels 30 rota in the lower end of the frame brackets 31, in proximity to 21 in bearing the scoop 22. The elements 32 thereon, said elements being arranged transversely of the chains and braced by small chains 33 having. pivotal connection with the portions of said chains 'as at 34. To permit the transmission of rotary with pulleys 28 on the shaft 27 and pass downwardly into engagement with pulleys 36 fixedly mounted on the rear axle in a suitable manner. To maintain the belts taut, idlers 37 may be and preferably are engaged therewith, and as will be noted are carried on brackets 38 secured to the opposite sides of the frame 1.

Pivoted to the under side of the frame 21 is a lever 39 having an angularly extending arm 40 thereon carrying a hoe11 at its outer end arranged at a point in proximity to the forward portion of the scoop 22. Pivotally engaged at one end with the lever '39 is a connecting rod 12, the other end thereof being pivotally the shaft of the sprocket wheels 30, whereby to permit the imparting of oscillatory motion to the lever 39 to effect movement of the hoe 11 to cause-it to engage the stones as they pass from the digging elements and to move them upon the scoop 22 and into engagement with the rakes 32 carried on the chains 29, whereby the stones can be conveyed upwardly over the frame 21 and discharged into the receiving receptacle 1-. In this connection, it is of course to be understood that the hoe 41 is arranged transversely of the frame 21 and that two of the levers 39 are provided, one being arranged on each side of the frame 21 and each hav-, ing connection with connecting rods 42;

Spring pressed fingers 13 are pivotally connected to the holders 16 rearwardly of the members 19, to serve as guards to the scoop 22 and to prevent the clogging thereof. The scoop 22 is preferably provided with a bearing member 15 on its forward 4: is an inclined frame 21 hav the latter having chains 29.

chains 29 carry raking connected to a crank arm on.

portion, the latter being grooved to receive the tongues of scraper elements 16. By so providing the scoop 22, it will beunderstood that the smaller stones dislodged by the digging tools 19 will move upwardly over the scraping element 16 into engagement with the scoop 22 and consequently, will not be allowed to. work, themselves under the scoop. 1 p p The receiving receptacle 4 is provided with .anrendgate-47, hinged at its upper end to the'rear end of the frame, while the lower end thereof is engaged by a cable 418 extending longitudinally of the frame 1 over suitable guide pulleys 19 into engagement with a winding drum 50 mounted on the forward end of the machine and provided with suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism 51 whereby to prevent reverse rotation of the drum until desired. A crank handle 52 is also provided and as will be understood, is adapted to be engaged over the squared end of the shaft supporting the winding drum 50 in order that rotary motion can'be im- Parted thereto. 1

In order that movement of the conveying. means comprising the chains. 29 and the raking elements 32 can be controlled at will by an operator, clutch elements 52 are slidably mounted on the opposite portions of the shaft 27 and are adapted to be engaged with similar clutch elements 53 carried by the wheels 28 for receiving the upper ends of the belts 35 thereabout; the clutch eleinents 52' being operable by suitable handles 54c pivotally mounted on the frame in a suitable manner.

An operators seat 55 is preferably arranged on the forward end of the frame 1 V at' a point convenient to the levers 9.

In operation, the machine is moved or drawn over a field'or other surface to be cleared of stones whereupon the levers 9 are rocked to cause independent adjustment of the various tool holders 16 with relation to the soil of the field. By so adjusting the tool holders 16, it will be readily understood that the digging tools or elements 19 will be on gaged with the soil at predetermined depths and in consequence, as the machine'is moved alongfthese digging elements will serve to engageand remove stones from the soil. :As 7 the stones are engaged and removed from the soil by the digging. elements, they pass rearwardly into engagement with the scoop 22 and are then engaged by the hoe 41, whereupon they are directed onto the frame 21 for engagement by the rakes'32 carried on the conveying means. At this time'the stones are carried upwardly through the frame 21 and discharged into the receiving receptacle 41. Should abnormal stress or strain be imparted to the tools 19 during the operation, breaking of the same or of the holders or of other parts of the machincry will be materially lessened by the yielding connection afforded by the springs l3. The belts 35 are suitably protected by housings 56. These springs, as will be readily understood, will permit slight relative movement between the links and the connecting rods 8, hence, allowing the digging elements to automatically adjust themselves with relation to the strain or stress imparted thereto. hen desiring to unload the receiving receptacle 4 it is only necessary to release the winding drum 15 by disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel thereon, the weight of the stones being suflicient to cause the moving of the hinged end gate 47 to its open position. Subsequent to the unloading of the stones, the end gate can of course be moved to closed position by rotating the winding drum 15 in a direction to cause the coiling of the adjacent portion of the cable 48 thereabout.

, Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of members having digging tools and suspended from said frame, a scoop device rearwardly of the suspended members and having scraper elements, a plurality of spring pressed guard members extending rearwardly of the suspended members and coacting I with the scoop device, and means for removing the gathered material from the scoop.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a supporting frame, a pluralityof members having digging tools and suspended from said frame, a scoop device rearwardly of the suspended members and having scraper ele ments, a plurality of spring pressed guard members extending rearwardly of the suspended members and coacting with the scoop device, and an endless conveyer device traveling above the scoop and operating to remove the gathered material therefrom.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, a plurality of members having digging tools and suspended from said frame, a scoop device rearwardly of the suspended members and having scraper elements, means for removing the gathered material from the scoop, a plurality of spring pressed guard members extending rearwardly of the suspended member and coacting with the scoop device, and a hoe device operating between the material removing means and the guard fingers to prevent clogging of the same.

4. In an apparatus of the class described a supporting frame, a plurality of members having digging tools and suspended from said frame, a scoop device rearwardly of the suspended members and having scraper elements, a. plurality of spring pressed guard members extending rearwardly of the suspended members and coacting with the scoop device, an endless conveyer operating above the scoop, and a hoe device operating between the guard fingers and the receiving end of the conveyer to prevent clogging of the guard fingers and feed the gathered material between the conveyer and scoop.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature hereto.

MERT MCQUEEN. 

